Window mounting for room air conditioning unit



Nov. 19, 1963 w. c. MARTIN, JR., ETAL 3,111,076

WINDOW MOUNTING FOR ROOM AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Feb. 9. 1961 FiG. 4

HUI-

FIG. 3

INVENTOR. WILLIAM C. MARTIN JR. CHARLES W. FALL ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,111,076 WINDOW MOUNTING FOR ROOM AlR CONDITIONING UNIT William C. Martin, Jr., Syracuse, and Charles W. Fall, Baldwinsville, N.Y., assignors to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 88,061 3 Claims. (til. 9894) This invention relates to self-contained room air con ditioning units and more particularly to a structure for mounting a room air conditioning unit in a window opening.

Room air conditioning units in the past were large and heavy, consequently they were mounted in awindow opening by cumbersome means including brackets and clamps to form a more or less permanent mounting. Recently, room air conditioning units have been reduced in size and accordingly attempts have been made to provide means for readily mounting such units in a window opening without the necessity for complicated tools. It has been proposed that room air conditioners be provided with adjustable end panel assemblies to close the spaces between the sides of the air conditioning unit and the side tracks of the window. Heretofore flexible curtains have been employed in such end panel assemblies. These curtains were generally not self-supponting and tracking means were required at the top and bottom of the side panel assemblies to support and guide the curtain as the end panel assembly was extended and contracted. The curtain often became untracked and difficulty then resulted in opening and closing the end panel assembly. In addition, it was often necessary to provide sealing means in the top and bottom channel members of the end panel assemblies to prevent the ingress of ambient air into the room. Sometimes the curtains employed were of a bulky material and the end panel assemblies extended from the sides of the air conditioning unit and were not fully compacted when in the collapsed position. Thus, an unnecessary limitation was imposed on the width of the opening into which the room air conditioner might be placed. In addition, in shipment of the room air conditioner including the mounting structure, the size of the container needed to encase the unit was unduly increased.

An object of the present invention is to provide a room air conditioning unit having improved window mounting means therefor in which the disadvantages and deficiencies of prior window mounting means are obviated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a room air conditioning unit having mounting means including at least one extensible end panel assembly having a self-supporting panel member therein.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a room air conditioning [unit with mounting means including a panel member formed of oriented polyester material which is permanaently heat set.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a room air conditioning unit with improved window mounting means to provide simplification of installation and substantial reduction in the cost of manufacture. These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description.

This invention relates to means for mounting a room air conditioning unit in a window opening comprising a main frame adapted to be secured to the air conditioning unit, the main frame including top and bottom channelshaped members and side members, the top and bottom members defining substantially parallel trackways, the bottom channel-shaped member being adapted to rest on a window still, an extension frame assembly adapted to close the space between a side of the air conditioning unit and a side track of the window, the extension frame assembly including a frame and a panel member therein, the frame having a vertical member connected to parallel legs, the legs being arranged to slide in the trackways, the panel member being secured at one end to a side member end at the other and to a Vertical member, the panel member being made from oriented saturated polyester material having a plurality of pleats formed therein, the pleats being self-supporting and being movable uniformly with respect to one another to maintain uniform pleat spacing during extension and contraction of the extension frame assembly, the panel member extending into the top and bottom channel-shaped members to form a substantially weathertight seal between the panel member and the legs of the frame.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the window mounting means of the present invention showing the air con ditioning unit in phantom;

FIGURE )2 is a horizontal sectional view through an end panel assembly of the window mounting means taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section view through the window mounting means of the present invention taken along the line IHIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a preferred locking means for retaining each end panel assembly in the adjusted position; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view through the extension panel 20 taken along the lines VV of FIG- URE 1.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the room air conditioner unit is illustrated in phantom in FIGURE 1. This self-contained air conditioner unit 2 is of the conventional type and includes a compressor, a condenser, expansion means and an evaporator connected to form a refrigeration system. The unit 2 is disposed in a window opening so that the condenser is in communication with the ambient air and the evaporator is in communication with the room to be treated. Suitable fan means are provided within the casing 3 of the air conditioning unit to pass air over the evaporator and condenser, respectively. Inasmuch as the air conditioning unit is conventional and forms no part of the present invention, it is unnecessary that it be described in additional detail.

The window mounting means of the present invention includes a main frame 4 which is adapted to be connected to casing 3 of the air conditioning unit 2. The main frame includes a top channel 5, a bottom channel 6, and side members 7 and 8. The ends of the top and bottom channels are detachably secured to the side members. A gasket 9 is disposed between the casing 3 of the air conditioning unit and the main frame 4 to provide a wheatherseal between these elements. Suitable fastening means, as for example, screws 10, are provided to secure the main frame to the casing of the air conditioning unit.

As can better be seen in FIGURE 3, the top channel 5 includes an upstanding portion 11. When the room air conditioner having the novel mounting means is installed in the window, the bottom channel 6 rests on the window sill and the rear of the upstanding portion abuts against the front of the lower window sash.

End panel assemblies 12 and 13 are adapted to telescopically engage with the top and bottom channels of the main frame to close the spaces between the sides of the air conditioning unit and the side tracks of the Window. Each end panel assembly includes a frame comprising an upper guide member 14, a lower guide member 15 and a vertically disposed member 16. Each upper guide member includes a flange 14- extending upwardly therefrom. The guide members and end members are secured toegther by suitable fastening means, for example,

an L-shaped member fastened at the corner to the guide member and end member, respectively. An extension flange 18 is formed on the end member 16 and is adapted to engage in the side track of the window.

An extensible panel member 20 is provided in the frame. The panel member is formed from a saturated, oriented polyester material which is formed into pleats and permanently heat-set so as to cause the pleats to return to the original heat-set configuration. Basically, the material is a highly durable, water-repellant film of polyethylene terephthalate resin, preferably, 0.006 to 0.008 inch thick. The vertical pleats provide an inherent stiffness and thus render the material selfssuppiorting. The intrinsic memory provides a self-returning panel member. The material is translucent and thus allows greater design freedom.

As can be seen in FIGURE 2 the end members 16 of each end panel assembly are provided with suitable openings or slots 23 in the walls 22 which are spaced from the exterior of the channel forming the end member. Spaced openings 21 are provided in the end pleat of each panel member. A button 24 may be inserted through the opening 241 into the slot which is preferably coextensive with each end member to fasten the panel member to the side members of the main frame and to the end member of each extension frame. As is clearly seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, the upper and lower guide members each have a wall 25 and 26 therein provided with a slot 27 and 28 respectively, extending the length thereof. The upper and lower edges of panel member .26 slidably abut walls 25 and 2 6 respectively. Formed between the wall 2 and the top of the guide member 14 is a chamber 29' and formed between the wall 26 and the bottom of the lower guide member is a chamber 30. These chambers coact with the panel member to provide an effective weatherseal. The air which may pass from the outdoors through the end panel assemblies will be forced to change direction several times in passing around the upper and lower edges of the panel members of the end panel assembly and it has been found that by this construction, the amount of air seepage between the frame and the panel member is negligible.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is shown a resilient clip 31 which acts against the inherent force of the flixible curtain to return to its initial heat-set configuration to retain the frame in the selected adjusted position. The resilient clip includes an insert portion 32 adapted to be inserted into the chamber 29, a lock portion 33 adapted to engage the bottom of the top guide member and a grip portion 34 which can be grasped to raise the clip and release the lock portion 33 from engagement with the bottom of the top guide member. If desired, other means may be provided to fixedly secure the end panel assemblies with respect to the main cframe. Such means may include a tapped hole in the upstanding portion 11 of the top channel 5 into which may be threaded a set screw which is adapted to engage an upstanding portion of the upper guide member 14.

In installing the room air conditioner having the window mounting means of the present invention, the window is first opened. The room air conditioner is placed on the window sill with the bottom channel 6 resting on the window sill. The end panel assemblies are extended until theextension flanges 18 are in engagement with the side tracks of the window. Assuming that the panel member is of the self-returning configuration, the resilient clip 31 will engage with the bottom of the upper guide member and prevent the retraction of the end panel assembly with respect to the main frame. The window may then be lowered to bring the lower sash thereof into abutting engagement with the upstanding portion 11 on the top channel member and the flanges 14 on the upper guide members.

It will be understood that the panel member may be formed from a sheet or film of oriented, saturated polyester material. The sheet is pleated and heat-set to cause the pleats to return to a predetermined set. The panel member may be made either self-contracting or self-expanding in this fashion. In operation, a uniform pleat spacing is maintained. If the curtain employed is selfretracting, then the resilient clip 31 illustrated in FIG- URE 4 may be employed to secure the end panel assembly in the adjusted position. If the self-expanding type curtain be employed then the resilient clip may be suitably modified or other fastening means may be employed.

The pleats fol-d compactly and the panel members may be compressed within the channel portions of the side members and vertical end members. The pleats formed in the panel member extend vertically in the end panel assemblies. These pleats are self-supporting and further these pleats stretch uniformly when the end pane-l assembly is extended. In test, it has been found that the curtain tends to space itself in the channel and provide an effective seal'preventing the ingress of exterior air into the room. By virtue of the unique panel member, the need for a separate seal and for tracking means in the upper guide member and lower guide member is obviated.

By means of the present invention the installation of a window air conditioning unit into a window opening has been greatly simplified. The novel air conditioner unit mounting means is easy to manufacture and maintain.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation, and we desire to protect all embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Means for mounting a room air conditioning unit in a window opening comprising a main frame adapted to be secured to the air conditioning unit, said main frame including top and bottom channel-shaped members and side members, said top and bottom members defining substantially parallel trackways, said bottom channelshaped member being adapted to rest on a window sill, an extension frame assembly adapted to close the space between a side of the air conditioning unit and a side track of the window, said extension frame assembly including a frame and a panel member therein, said frame having a vertical member connected to parallel channel-shaped legs, said legs being arranged to slide in said trackways, said panel member being secured at one end to said side member and at the other end to said vertical member, said panel member being made from oriented, saturated polyester material having a plurality of pleats formed therein, said pleats being self-supporting and being movable uniformly with respect to one another to maintain uniform pleat spacing during extension and contraction of the extension frame assembly, said panel member being heat treated to cause it to return to its original heatset configuration, said panel member extending into the top and bottom channel-shaped legs to form a substantially weather-tight seal between the panel member and the legs of the frame.

2. Means for mounting a room air conditioning unit in a window opening comprising a main frame adapted to be secured to the air conditioning unit, said main frame including top and bottom channel-shaped members and side members, said top and bottom members defining substantially parallel trackways, said bottom channelshaped member being adapted to rest on a window sill, an extension frame assembly adapted to close the space between a side of the air conditioning unit and a side track of the window, said extension frame assembly including a frame and a panel member therein, said frame having a vertical member connected to parallel channelshaped legs, said legs being arranged to slide in said trackways, said panel member being secured at one end to said side member and at the other end to said vertical member, said panel member being made from polyethylene terephthalate resin material having a plurality of pleats formed therein, said pleats being self-supporting and being movable uniformly with respect to one another to maintain uniform pleat spacing during extension and contraction of the extension frame assembly, said panel member extending into the top and bottom channel-shaped legs to form a substantially weather-tight seal between the panel member and the legs of the frame.

3. Means for mounting a room air conditioning uni-t as in claim 1 wherein each of said channel-shaped legs includes wall means spaced from and parallel to the bottom portion of said channel-shaped legs, said panel member having substantially planar uninterrupted top and 6 bottom edges adapted to slidingly abut said wall means to form a substantially weather-tight seal between the panel member and the legs of the frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,279,271 Williams Apr. 7, 1942 2,577,845 Delf Dec. 11, 1951 2,781,717 Hord Feb. 19, 1957 2,818,793 Ho rd Jan. 7, 1958 2,891,612 Johnson June 23, 1959 2,995,779 Winter Aug. 15, 1961 

1. MEANS FOR MOUNTING A ROOM AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IN A WINDOW OPENING COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, SAID MAIN FRAME INCLUDING TOP AND BOTTOM CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBERS AND SIDE MEMBERS, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS DEFINING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TRACKWAYS, SAID BOTTOM CHANNELSHAPED MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO REST ON A WINDOW SILL, AN EXTENSION FRAME ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO CLOSE THE SPACE BETWEEN A SIDE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AND A SIDE TRACK OF THE WINDOW, SAID EXTENSION FRAME ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A FRAME AND A PANEL MEMBER THEREIN, SAID FRAME HAVING A VERTICAL MEMBER CONNECTED TO PARALLEL CHANNEL-SHAPED LEGS, SAID LEGS BEING ARRANGED TO SLIDE IN SAID TRACKWAYS, SAID PANEL MEMBER BEING SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID SIDE MEMBER AND AT THE OTHER END TO SAID VERTICAL MEMBER, SAID PANEL MEMBER BEING MADE FROM ORIENTED, SATURATED POLYESTER MATERIAL HAVING A PLURALITY OF PLEATS FORMED THEREIN, SAID PLEATS BEING SELF-SUPPORTING AND BEING MOVABLE UNIFORMLY WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER TO MAINTAIN UNIFORM PLEAT SPACING DURING EXTENSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE EXTENSION FRAME ASSEMBLY, SAID PANEL MEMBER BEING HEAT TREATED TO CAUSE IT TO RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL HEATSET CONFIGURATION, SAID PANEL MEMBER EXTENDING INTO THE TOP AND BOTTOM CHANNEL-SHAPED LEGS TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY WEATHER-TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN THE PANEL MEMBER AND THE LEGS OF THE FRAME. 